Sunday, September 18, 2016

September 16, 2016

Class 216 News
September 16, 2016

This Is Me and What I Believe
Students started presenting this week, and modeled very well for the rest of the class.  Carter, Susanna, Owen and Nicholas all came prepared to share about themselves and their beliefs.  We learned about interests in cooking and baking, climbing and art.  We heard about hopes to travel, learn division, and become an inventor.  Beliefs of happiness, risk and more time with family would make the world a better place, according to these students.  We were even treated to a violin demonstration.  Next week, Nick, Dublin, Jameson and Andrew will present, in that order, Monday-Thursday.

Math Workshop
This week in math workshop, there was an emphasis on the use and understanding of cuisenaire rods.  This math tool/resource will prove helpful in conceptual development of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and fractions.  It is a very efficient and flexible math tool.  This week, our focus was mainly on the value of each rod, and using it's value to work with addition.  Students ultimately designed their first names using these rods, and added up the value of their name, based on which rods they used to build it.  In addition to our cuisenaire rod work, we finished off our week with more origami. Teaching Math With Modular Origami  
This coming week, students will begin work on multiplication and the meaning of factors.

Reading Workshop
During reading workshop this week, students continued to develop routines of the reading workshop model.  In part, this included the choosing of "just right" books.  This essential skill allows students to practice reading skills using text that meets their independent ability level.  When students are engaged with text that is "too hard," or "too easy," there is less space for skill development.

Hopes and Dreams
As part of our "This Is Me and What I Believe" presentations, students are charged with identifying hopes for the future.  This assignment is coupled with a hopes and dreams  art piece we worked on this week.  Students traced their hands and then used warm and cool colors to color the inside of their hands and their background.  This coming week, they will write their hopes and dreams onto their art, so that we are all aware of each other's goals, and therefore able to better support each other in accomplishing them.  The hopes and dreams art will be displayed on our classroom wall throughout the year.

ECO
This coming Tuesday, Class 216 students, as well as students from Ms. Slesar's class, will walk to Hubbard park for a brief visit with Geoff Beyer, director of the Montpelier Parks Commission.  Geoff will discuss his role in Hubbard Park, it's mission, and history, all within the context of the same guiding questions for our "This Is Me..." presentations.  Geoff has been a remarkable asset to our community, and it is important for students to know about his good work.  This introduction sets the stage for an upcoming social studies unit called, "Remarkable People Through History."

On Friday, we will go to Hubbard Park once again for our first ECO Adventure  (Educating Children Outdoors) of 3rd grade.  This ECO Adventure will balance hiking and development of an ecological concept.  More information will come regarding preparedness.


Field Trips
On Friday, September 30th, the 3rd grade class at UES will take a "Hiking Field Trip" to the Groton State Forest.  Volunteer guides/chaperones are welcome to attend.  See the notice in your child's pack on Monday (or email) for more information.

Additionally, on Thursday, October 6th, 3rd graders will be treated to a cultural performance at Burlington's Flynn Theater.  See the attached link for information about the show:  Flynn Theater Show

Snack Contributions
It is always nice to have a small, simple snack as an occasional afternoon offering for students.  Snacks such as whole grain goldfish, gluten free crackers, ritz crackers and pretzels provide just enough sustenance to carry a child through those waning moments of their school day.  If you feel inclined to send in a "community" snack for Class 216, you are welcome to.


Parent Volunteer Needed 
The Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences 4 Winds science lessons, led by parent volunteers, is a meaningful addition to our school's science programming.  Roxi Garland, mother of Class 216 student, Carter, is seeking an additional parent volunteer to assist her in leading monthly lessons.  Training is provided.  Please contact me if you are interested.
The Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences 4-Winds Science lessons are an important part of the UES science programming for students.  These lessons are run by parent volunteers on a monthly basis, and include appropriate training in advance (so you do not have to be a nature expert).  Roxi Garland, mother of a Class 216 student, has offered to lead these lessons, but is looking for a monthly assistant.  Please contact me asap if you are willing and able.


Sunday, September 11, 2016

September 11, 2016

September 11, 2016
Class 216 News

Families,
We have tucked 7 full days of school away, and now enter our first full week.  I hope your children are coming home feeling positive about their experiences, and ready to embrace each new day as it arrives in the morning.  Here is a little snapshot into some of our endeavors these past 7 days.

This Is Me and What I Believe
The student, oral presentations are getting underway this week.  Class 216 students had the opportunity to see two adult presentations so they could better understand the expectations of the presentations.  Mrs. Francke, school Guidance counselor and I both presented this week.  Take a look at the schedule in the email for your child's presentation date.








This Is Us!



















Self-Portraits
An important tradition at the beginning of a school year is to have students do "self-portraits."  This work becomes one of the first pieces of student work/art to be displayed in our classroom and one that builds classroom community in the process of creating.  This year's beginning of the school year portraits were inspired by New York City pop artist, James Rizzi.

Math and Reading Workshop
Each day, students have been spending about 45 minutes in both math and reading workshop.  As mentioned before, students go to Ms. Slesar's classroom for Reading Workshop, and are in my classroom for Math Workshop.  These past few days have been spent setting routines, and building expectations, as well as incorporating some reading and math along the way.  Ask your child which math work station they enjoyed most - Connect Four, Tangrams, Dice Roll Addition, or Pattern Blocks.



Read Aloud
Our class read aloud is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.  Many students are familiar with this story, but very welcoming of another listen.  This is the first time I have ever read this book to a class, in my 16 years of teaching.  It certainly stands among one of the most significant books in children's literature, ever.

Thursday, September 1, 2016

August 31, 2016

Class 216 First Day News
August 31, 2016

 


Dear Families Of Class 216 Students,
The first day of school went pretty smoothly.
I know it is an adjustment to go from summer routines (or lack there of) and time schedules to school rhythms and expectations.  That is why I try and ease students back into the swing of school, by ensuring outdoor play time and indoor work time are balanced.  That being said, our first day was spent just like that.

OUTDOOR PLAY

We managed to get outside 3 times today.  During these experiences, we played“jail tag,” “hide and seek eagle eye,” went swinging, hid under slides, played ball games, and simply breathed the fresh air – all important to our well being.


NAME CARD DESIGN

Students used pencils, sharpie markers and crayons to design on the insides of their classroom name tags.  Many artistic juices were flowing!


MATH…ORIGAMI

During our math block today, we warmed up to math concepts of addition, multiplication, division, fractions and geometry, ALL within the context and experience of making origami.  We are on our way to each constructing a 16-pointed modular origami star (hopefully to be brought home Friday as a representation of our “math” work).

READING WORKSHOP

Students spent 1/2  hour of their day with Ms Slesar for Reading Workshop.  They got a chance to meet her, see their reading space/classroom, and learn a little about Reading Workshop this year.


READ ALOUD

Today, we began our first chapter book read aloud, titled The Hundred Dresses. This story of compassion and understanding is perfect to begin a new year, as a new community of learners.

FIND A CLASSMATE WHO…

In an effort to get to know one another better, we did an activity where students had to find out information about each other.  This lent itself to finding similarities and differences among us!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL STORY

We ended the day with a cute story, appropriate for the first day of school – ask your child about it.

LOOKING AHEAD…

Next week, we will begin an oral presentation unit called, This Is Me and What I Believe.”  Your child does NOT need to worry about preparing for this, yet, but keep an eye out in the coming days for more information about this. 

Weekly Homework will NOT start this week, and likely NOT next week, either.  However, there may be little homework assignments that I may need them to do over the next couple weeks (see attached homework for Wednesday night).

SCHEDULE REMINDER

Interactive Arts
Monday:  Music
Tuesday: Tech/Library
Wednesday: Art
Thursday: PE
Friday: PE

Recess / Lunch : 12:15-1:05

CONTACT INFORMATION

Tele:  225-8216 (though presently not working)
Blog:  class216.blogspot.com